Page 48 of Bride Under Contract

He turned his abruptly to her and she saw the male he was, the snap of possession in his eyes, and Grace swore to herself that she would never mistake that look for love.

It gave her the strength to speak on. ‘If the relationship falls apart in the bedroom...’

‘I’ve never fallen apart in the bedroom.’

‘I’m just saying,’ Grace retorted calmly, ‘that if we go our separate ways, then I too shall be discreet.’

A slight incredulous smile spread over his lips. ‘You were a virgin until recently.’

‘Thank you for showing me all I was missing out on,’ she said, and gave him a tight smile.

She was being brave in words, but she doubted she could ever be so brave in deed. Still, she would not let him see that.

‘So we’d have that added to the contract too.’

‘Fine.’

‘If I go ahead.’

They stood quietly. The occasional light motion of the boat meant the tops of their arms brushed every now and again, just a little, and her skin flared at each brief contact, refused to settle.

God, she was really deeply considering it...

‘What would I tell Violet?’ She could hear herself almost panting, as if on some frantic hunt, stopping breathlessly for clues along the way.

‘That we met, fell in love... You can’t tell her the truth.’

‘I know.’ Grace nodded. ‘But she knows me. Knows I wouldn’t rush into something like this.’ She blinked a couple of times. ‘I don’t think she’d believe me.’

‘Then make it so,’ Carter said.

She felt his head turn and then his mouth close to her ear.

‘Tell her I asked you to marry me in a river of lilac flowers...’

Her breathing was so shallow now she was almost dizzy.

‘That we made love in a boat and you said yes...’

She was shaking—perhaps from standing in the morning sun?

Or was it the thought of the two million dollars that would change both her and her mother’s life?

Or just lust and desire?

‘Does Arif know about the will?’ Grace asked. ‘Is that why you were arguing?’

‘No.’ Carter shook his head. ‘And we weren’t arguing.’

‘You looked like thunder when you came out of his office.’

He rolled his eyes. ‘If Arif were a woman, we’d have been over years ago. He’s that person you can’t say no to...or you can’t stop worrying about.’

Grace just laughed.

‘I think you mean Arif is family.’

‘Oh, no. Believe me, I have nothing to do with any of them, aside from legally.’

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